ALLEGIANT AIR DISCONTINUING LONG BEACH FLIGHT

Allegiant Air officials announced Friday that they are discontinuing the airline's popular direct route between Idaho Falls and Long Beach, Calif., next month.

Allegiant spokeswoman Kristine Shattuck-Cooper said the decision applies to every Long Beach route the Las Vegas-based airline flies, effective Nov. 28.

"It will affect anything flying out of Long Beach," Shattuck-Copper said. "Idaho Falls will be one of the ones affected."

Idaho Falls Regional Airport Director Len Nelson said he had not spoken with Allegiant executives about the decision, but assumes the airline simply will sub out the Long Beach flight with a Los Angeles flight next month.

Allegiant's online reservation site, www.allegiantair.com, indicates flights from Idaho Falls to Long Beach won't be offered after Nov. 13. But it also indicates that flights between Idaho Falls and Los Angeles will be offered beginning Nov. 17, with one-way prices for early December flights starting as low as $32.99 each way.

When asked about the possibility of swapping the Long Beach flight for the Los Angeles option, Shattuck-Cooper said Tuesday that Allegiant officials have not finalized their plans for Idaho Falls flight service.

"We have not made that determination," she said. "As soon as we do have more information, we will be sure to get that out."

Allegiant launched its initial connection between Idaho Falls and southern California in June 2010, with flights bound for Los Angeles International Airport.